[EBB Sightings] Crockett Hills 4/23 Raptor Census

April 23, 2007

Turkey Vulture 36
Red-tailed Hawk 220
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 3
Northern Harrier 19
Am. Kestrel 6
Peregrine 0
White-tailed Kite 5
Golden Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 0
Osprey 0
Unidentified Accip 0
Unidentified Buteo 6
Unidentified Raptor 20

Total Count: 318
Total Minutes: 240
Raptors per Hour: 79.5

Temp 53F-70F, Wind 260T  at  5 mph, scattered light cumulus

Crew: Leslie Koenig (GGRO), Harv Wilson (GGRO)

About two thirds of all birds were high altitude arrivals from 180T-220T.
Unlike 4/20, most arrivals tended to glide to low altitude locally, find
thermals, and then ascend in thermals and depart. 

Double counting was minimal since we could see arriving birds from pretty
far out. Few first-sightings were pop-ups on the hills to the SW. The two
Golden Eagle sightings were the local pair. 

Harv